Thermocouple and pilot burner



Uva. 2l, *12 H, A MAN-yz THERMOCOUPLE AND PILOT BURNER Original Filed April 13, 1.959

I llIll//l E f Il Erl Patented Nov. 21, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT I orrlcs 2,363,072 THERMOCOUPLE AND PILOT BURNER Harold A. Mantz, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Milwaukee Gas Specialty Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation oi' Wisconsin 2 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to a thermocouple and pilot burner.

The present application isa division of my copending application, Serial No. 267,733, led April 13, 1939, now Patent No. 2,267,742, issued December 30, 1041.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a combined thermocouple and pilot burner which is eiective and reliable in operation and, at the same time, is simple and compact in construction and relatively inexpensive to build, assemble, and install.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a thermocouple and pilot burner as aunitary assembly that may be mounted as a unit, and in which the desired position of the thermocouple relative to the pilot iiame is at all times assured; also a device of the character set forth having an improved relation and improved forms of connection between the various parts.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a combined thermocouple and pilot burner device embodying the present invention:

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1, showing l a modification of the device; and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a second modincation of thedevice.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure l, the outer end of the metallic tubular fuel supply lead 48 is secured in a metallic bracket member 48, from which it is electrically insulated at B. The fuel supplied by the tube 46, which is preferably flexible to permit bending or turning the same or leading it around corners for disposition of the thermocouple and pilot burner as desired, passes outwardly through aport 49, and when ignited, forms a pilot name. The bracket 48 has an integral inverted and generally channel or U-shaped shield El which connes the pilot name so that the hot junction oi the thermocouple will be subject to the heat of the pilot flame as long as the pilot burner is lighted. I

The ther-mocouple comprises an external metallic tubular thermocouple element |52 clamped at 53 in the bracket '48 and an internal thermocouple element B4 formed of dissimilar material and joined to the outer end of the external thermocouple element to form a thermal junction 58 adapted 'to be heated by the pilot flame. The projecting inner end of the internal thermocouple element 54 is connected by a short lead 59 to tube 46, which extends through a tubular metal casing 60, from which it is electrically insulated at 300a, to the desired position and is connected directly to one lead of a coil of an electromagnet (not shown). The tubular casing 6D is connected in circuit with the external thermocouple element 52 through the bracket 48, as will appear presently, and constitutes the lead conductor between the othe;` lead of the coil oi the electromagnet. and the external thermoeouple element 52.

The bracket 48 is clamped at 64 to the outer end of the tubular casing 60, in close electrical conducting contact therewith, and is supported upon an angular supporting bracket by a screw 66 which cooperates with a slot 61 in the extending leg of the bracket to permit adjustment of the position of the thermocouple and pilot burner. The depending leg of the bracket 65 is secured at B9 to the wall 10, which may be the wall of a space heater, hot water heater, or any other suitable heater, or the part indicated at 10 may be any other suitable support.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, the metallic tubular fuel supply tube 15, which is preferably flexible for the purposes hereinbefore set forth, is secured in a jetv member 16, which jet member in turn is securd in the metallic bracket 11, from which it is electrically insulated at 302. A venturi 18 is mounted in the bracket 11 in axial alignment with the orifice 19 at the outer end of the jet member 16 and spaced outwardly therefrom. Where the fuel is of a character, such as gas, requiring admixture of air therewith. the air necessary to provide the desired gaseous mixture is admitted through an air inlet at 80. The air admitted through the inlet and the fuel that issues from the orifice 19 pass outwardly through the venturi 18 into the mixing chamber 82. The resulting gaseous mixture passes outwardly through a port 84 at the outer end of the tubular portion of the bracket 11 and, when ignited, forms the pilot flame.

'Ihe thermocouple comprises an external metallic tubular thermocouple element 88 secured at 88m the bracket 11 and an internal thermocouple element 90 formed of dissimilar materiel and joined to the outer end of the external thermocouple element to form a thermal junction 82 adapted to be heated by the pilot ame.

In Figure 2 the short lead conductor 95 connects the internal thermocouple element 90 to the metallic fuel supply tube 15, this tube 15, in

so that the casing 96 will constitute the lead 10 conductor between the other lead of the coil of the electromagnet and th'e external thermocouple element 88.

The bracket 'Il is clamped at 98 to the outer end of the tubular casing 96 in electrical con- J5 ducting contact therewith, and is supported upon an angular bracket |00, being shown as mounted thereon by means of a screw |02 which cooperateswith a slot l|03 in the extending leg of the bracket to permit adjustment of the position of the thermocouple and pilot burner. The depending leg of the bracket |00 is secured at |04 to the wall |05, which may be the wall of. a space heater, hot water heater, or any other suitable heater, or the part indicated at |05 may be any other suitable support. y l

The outer vend of the tubular portion of the bracket I1 has a narrow slot I|0 opening inwardly from` the port 84, through which the pilot llame is directed upon the junction 92 of t'he thermocouple. The bracket 'Il has integral depending anges I|2 extending down along opposite sides of the thermocouple so that th'e pilot flame which is directed through the slot I|0 is confined and proper heating of the thermocouple at all times thereby assured.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, the metallic tubular fuel supply lead IIS is secured in a'metallic bracket member II8,

from which it is electrically insulated at 304.

The fuel supplied by the tube I I5, which is preferably flexible to permit bending or turning the same or leading it around corners for disposition of the thermocouple and 'pilot burner as desired, passes outwardly into a passage IIS formed in the depending portion of the bracket' l|8 and is 'directed obliquely through an oblique port |20 The The thermocouple comprises anextemal metallic tubular thermocouple element |25 secured at f |26 in the bracket IIB and an internal thermocouple element |28 joined to the outer end of the external thermocouple element to form a thermal junction |30 adapted to be heated by the pilot flame. The thermocouple is disposed longitudinally Within the shield I2 I, as shown.

In Figure 3 the short lead conductor |36 connects the internal thermocouple element |28 to the metallicfuel supply tube I I5, this tube, being insulated, as before., at 30la, from the tubular metal casing |38. The tubular casing |38 is connected in circuit with the external thermocouple element |25through the bracket IIB, as will appear presently, so that the casing |30 will constitute the lead conductor between the other lead of the coil of the electromagnet and the external thermocouple element |25.

The bracket I|8 is clamped at |42 to the outer end of the tubular casing |38, in electrical conducting contact therewith. 'I'h'e flexible tubular casing |38 serves to support the thermocouple and pilot burner in the desired position notwithstanding its flexibility and the'ilexibility of the tubular lead H5, but it is to be understood that supporting bracket means may be' provided as-suitable 0 or desired.

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details shown or described.

I claim:

l. In means of the character described. a flexible metallic tubular sheath, a metallic bracket secured upon one end of said sheath in electrical conducting relation thereto, a pilot burner and a thermoelectric generator supported by said bracket in cooperating relation with one element of the thermoelectric generator in electrical conducting relationto said bracket, and a flexible metallic fuel supply tube Within and electrically insulated from said sheath anchored in and electrically insulated from said bracket in position for supplying fuel to the pilot burner, said bracket, restraining said sheath and said tube againstA relative movement, said sheath being available as a lead for one element of th'e thermoelectric generator and said tube being available as a lead for the other element of the thermoelectric generator.

2. In means of the character described, a nexible metallic tubular sheath, a metallic bracket secured upon one end of said sheath, a pilot burner and a thermoelectric generator supported by said bracket in cooperating relation,

and a flexible metallic fuel supply tube Within HAROLD a MAN'iz. 

